May 16, 2025

Dear Beloved Members of Our Church Family,

As the warmth of summer approaches and fills our days with sunshine, take a moment to reflect on the incredible blessings God has showered upon us. Our church community has been bustling with life and joy, especially during the vibrant months of March and April. Our calendar was filled with meaningful events like Casino Night, the Iona Pilgrimage, Easter Holy Week, delightful Easter egg hunts, the uplifting Women’s Retreat, and our first Messy Church gathering for families. Each moment was a testament to the love and connection that binds us all.

I’m especially grateful for the six amazing women from our Vestry who embarked on the spiritual journey to Iona. I hope you found inspiration and joy in their daily blog, which took the place of our usual April Vestry Corner.

Looking ahead, the Vestry remains committed to our community’s growth and well-being. We're focusing on the final two pillars of our Capital Campaign and implementing exciting new plans to enrich our children and youth ministry programs. Our priorities include completing the third pillar and renovating of the third floor, and the fourth pillar, Stewardship of the campus, by bolstering our capital replacement funding to support a multi-year HVAC replacement plan, and other vital repair projects. Additionally, we aim to create a full-time Director of Children and Family Ministry position to further nurture our young families’ spiritual journeys.

By the end of May, we will transition from the planning phase to the construction phase of our renovation project. I am pleased to share that Bob Picardi, who has been effectively working with MFTA to update architectural plans and gather construction estimates, will be our dedicated Project Manager. The Vestry is set to vote on the project’s funding this week, marking an exciting milestone for us all.

As we prepare for these changes, we must also express our appreciation to Susan McGuire, our cherished Director of Children’s Formation and Family Ministry, as she steps down from her role at the end of May. Her unwavering dedication and passion have profoundly impacted our ministry. While Susan continues her education at VTS, I am delighted that she will continue to support family faith initiatives in the coming year. Her legacy of love and commitment remains a part of our community.

The Staffing Committee is diligently working to finalize the new job description for the Director of Children and Family Ministry. We hope to post this opportunity internally by the end of May. I invite you to prayerfully consider if you are called to serve Holy Comforter in this vital lay leadership role.

In closing, I encourage each of you to reflect on how you can continue to be a steward of the precious gifts God has entrusted to you. Our community’s generosity is a beautiful reflection of the deep love and connection we share with our church. Your contributions make our journey possible, and for that, we are profoundly grateful.

With heartfelt thanks and blessings,

Kathy DeSanti-Paulini

Senior Warden

www.holycomforter.com